From www.aicd.com.au: Next week, Treasurer Jim Chalmers will present the 2025-26 Budget, amid expectations of a significant swing into deficit influenced by recent announcements for spending on Medicare, infrastructure, and disaster relief following ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

The OECD’s latest forecasts indicate a slowdown in global growth and a modest rise in inflation, suggesting potential stagflationary pressures, while Australia’s economic outlook remains relatively stable, with projected growth of 1.9% for 2025.

Following a surprising drop in February employment figures, the unemployment rate holds at 4.1%, with discussions around the impacts of rising spending pressures on health, defence, and NDIS expectations shaping the fiscal landscape.